$Id: README.tv_check,v 1.12 2004/03/22 22:04:25 epaepa Exp $ This file describes the tv_check module of XMLTV. TV-CHECK is a Perl script that reads in a file with show information and checks it against a TV guide listing, alerting you to unexpected episodes or schedule changes. New for this release is a --myreplaytv option. For those lucky enough to enjoy that PVR, the shows.xml file can be automatically populated with data from the myreplaytv.com website. Questions/Comments/Suggestions/Thanks are, of course welcome. XMLTV - users xmltv-users@lists.sourceforge.net. XMLTV - developers xmltv-devel@lists.sourceforge.net tv_check author reden@cpan.org Documentation is available in "tv_check_doc.html" Quick-start guide ( run tv-check w/o parameters for options ) ------------------------------------------------------------- The default show file name is shows.xml The default guide file name is guide.xml Windows EXE users should add "xmltv.exe" to the beginning of each tv_ command 1. set timezone if not set ( this should not be necessary if using the EXE version) set TZ=CST6CDT 2. download listings using any XMLTV grabber, for example using tv_grab_fi for Finnish listings: tv_grab_fi --configure tv_grab_fi --output guide.xml 3. (non-ReplayTV users) use tv_check to create a "show file" tv_check --configure Pick some shows to track, Click Add to add to the list. exit tv_check 3a. (ReplayTV users) use tv_check to scan the guide (and grab myreplaytv.com) tv_check --myreplaytv=1,username,password --scan --html --out=a.html The "1" is a Replay unit number in case you have >1 replay. You can also run --configure mode to set paramters or edit the show file. 3b. (non-ReplayTV users) use tv_check to scan the guide tv_check --scan --html --out=a.html Sample shows.xml file ======================= <tv-check> <lang>en_US</lang> <shows device="VCR1" day="Sun" channel="10402" hhmm="2000" len="60" title="The X-Files" /> <shows device="Replay" day="Mon" channel="10402" hhmm="1900" len="30" title="That '70s Show" dayonly="1" /> </tv-check> Parameters ==================== lang : preferred language. Optional, can have multiple, in order of preferences shows : list of shows you're interested in Show attributes: ==================== day : day of the week and Sun,Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat channel: channelID used by the guide title : *EXACT* title of show. hhmm : start time of show (hhmm) len : expected length of show in minutes ( this may become optional ) device : device that records the show. Reports recording conflicts. : If the device contains "replay" takes into account ReplayTV's fuzzy recording logic Optional attributes: ==================== chanonly: if 1, episode scan ignores shows on other channels dayonly : if 1, episode scan ignores shows on other days timeonly: if 1, episode scan ignores shows at other times neartime: if 1, episode scan only reports shows within a 3 hour window Notes: ---------------------- "No Guide Info" means no guide information was found for that channel at that time. something may be wrong with the channel ID,listing fetch, or the guide file is just old. A "--html" option is available that outputs HTML output with color flagging. After processing shows, a check is made for recording conflicts. Only shows with the same "device" are checked for conflicts. VCR's probably would never give a conflict, but ReplayTV tries to find your show if it moves. If the device contains the string "REPLAY" (case insensitive) during the title scan, a recording is expected if the show within 1 timeslot of the requested time. This mimic's ReplayTV's recording logic and detects conflicts due to a show moving. The --myreplay import by default includes only guaranteed show channels. The non-guaranteed option can be used to have it include both types. Theme and Zone channels are not currently supported. Episodes before today and more than a week old are excluded from the title scan. Known bugs: --------------------- If you select a title in the title selection list and then try and select a blank day or channel the field doesn't blank. I have no clue. The variable doesn't match the displayed value... looks like a TK bug to me. Sometimes the GUI doesn't take focus at startup. Not sure why, and what can be done. if it shows up minimized, just click to bring it up. When using the "compiled" Windows EXE code on windows 98, the command window minimizes. No idea why. Seems to work fine on Win2k.